Composite package



Patented Mar. 22, 1949 COMPOSITE PACKAGE Leroy L. Salflsberg, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application May 11, 1946, Serial No. 669,156

(Cl. S-46) 3 Claims. l

This invention relates in general to commodity packages of the type comprising a plurality of layers of packaging material, at least two of which are sealed together in zones forming and bounding a commodity-receiving compartment` between said layers, and more particularly the invention pertains to such packages wherein the layers are formed of dissimilar material and the dimensions thereof vary in different degrees under the same conditions. For example, the invention contemplates a package that comprises a sheet of paper or other similar fibrous material, and layers of other material such as Pliolm or "cellophane sealed together to form an article-containing compartment between the layers. A

Known packages `of this character are sometimes objectionable in that one layer of packaging material, for example the paper layer, may expand or contract under changing atmospheric conditions in such a manner as to cause the package to become bent or warped. This bending or warping of the package not only detracts from the appearance thereof but also puts abnormal and unequal strains on the layers ci packaging material such as to cause tearing thereof.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a package of the general character described which shall embody a novel and improved combination and arrangement of the layers of packaging materials whereby the dimensional stability of the package shall not be materially aiected by unequal expansion or contraction of the different layers.

Another object is to provide such a package which shall comprise a backing layer of suit-y able material such as paper, and two other layers of, for example, cellophane or Pliofilm sealed together in zones forming and bounding a commodity-receiving compartment between them and both sealed to the paper layer in a novel and improved manner whereby expansion and contraction of the paper layer shall be compensated in such a way as to avoid curling, or buckling of the package or the imposition of uneiiual or abnormal strains on the layers of cellophane or P1iofllm.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a package constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view 2 on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure l1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of package, and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the package comprises a backing sheet or layer l of suitable material such as brous or cellulosic materials, for example paper or thin cardboard. superimposed upon one side of the sheet I are two other layers 2 and 3 of suitable material, for example Pliofilm or cellophane, which are sealed together in zones Il to form and bound a commodity-receiving compartment 5 between said layers. The layers may be secured together -in any suitable manner, for example thermoplastically or adhesively. Both of said layers are secured to the juxtaposed side of the sheet l only along their marginal portions in encircling' relation to the margins of said compartment, for example in zones 6 of substantially the same area and character as the zones The portions of the layers 2 and 3 inside the perimeter of the compartment, or bounded by the zones 6 are entirely free from the sheet i as indicated `at l. Also the intermediate layer 3 is preferably slightlyl normally spaced from the sheet i as further shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

With this construction, any expansion or contraction of the sheet l. will be taken up or compensated in the centra1 portion of the package that is bounded or encircled by the zones 5, and consequently there will be a minimum tendency to curling, buckling or wrinkling of the package, and the possibility of abnormal or excessive strains being imposed upon the thin layers 2 and 3 is reduced to a minimum.

The shape of the backing sheet may be as desired and where the layers 2 and 3 comprise transparent material the surface of the sheet overlaid by said layers 2 and 3 may have printed matter or ornamental designs 3 applied thereto.

Any desired commodity may be enclosed within the compartment 5, either a powder, paste or a tablet or pill, and for purposes of illustration a -large tablet 9 has been shown.

A modication of the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4 where the backing sheet l0 and the layers Il and I2 may be formed of the same materials as the sheet l and the layers 2 and 3, respectively, but the sheets are square instead ases, 17s

o! rectangular and the sealed zones il which connect the packaging layers II and I2 form a circular commodity-receiving compartment Il instead of a rectangular compartment as shown in Figure 1; and the sealed zones I5 by which the layers II and I2 are connected to the backing sheet II may be of the same or diil'erent shape and area than the zones I3. For example and as shown, the zones I5 are of uniform width around the margins of the sheets so as to bound a square area beneath the layers Il and I2, while the zones I3 form a circular area at the centers oi the layers.

It will also be understood by those skilled in.. the art that the layers in the sealed zones may' be corrugated or interdigitated in diii'erent ways, for example by cross-crimping as shown in Figure 1, or by diagonal corrugations as shown in Figure 3 It will also be understood that the materials of which the layers I, 2, 3, Il, II and I2 are formed may be widely varied to suit diiierent conditions. For example, in some instances it may be desirable to make the backing sheets I will yield under the strains of expansion and con" f 4 toandoutwardlyotthemarginsotsaidcompart ment to the first-mentioned layer, the central portions of said two layers being free from said tirst-mentioned layer.

2. Apackagecomprisingatleastthree layers of material, at least two thereof being substantially identical, nexible and transparent and Ahaving the same dimensional stability under iluctuations in moisture content oi the atmosphere, andla commodity compartment between them, the third layer being of an opaque material relatively stlil'er than said two layers and having a dimensional stability different from said two layers under said variations in moisture content of the atmosphere, said third layer being Iastened through only its marginal portions to one side of one of the first two layers by a continuous sealing zone encircling said compartment beyond its margins 3. A package comprising an envelope formed of opposed layers of thin iiexible material having a commodity compartment between ,them and a relatively thick and stil! backing 'sheet which is susceptible to substantially greater dimensional variations than said layers under iluctuations in moisture content in the atmosphere, said package struction of the other sheets so as to prevent undue warping or buckling of the package. Preferably, but not necessarily, the backing sheets are relatively stiff as compared with the other.

expansion and contraction than the others under.

the same variations in moisture content of the atmosphere, at least two of said layers being susceptible to the same amount ofexpansion and contraction under said variations in moisture content of the atmosphere and having a commodiiy compartment between them and their marginal portions sealed in encircling relation being characterized in that said envelope is `fastened to said backing sheet only at its marginal portions throughout the perimeter outwardly of the margins of said compartment, whereby said layers are protected against warping of said 4backing sheet and against strains incident to unequal Vexpansion and contraction of said layers and said backing sheet.

LEROY L. SALFIBBERG.

anrnaaNcns errno :The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED s'rs'ras PA'ENTs Number Name Date 1,436,238 crupain Nov.21.1m 2,069,335 samstag Feb.2,1931 2,143,707 Austin Jan. 3, 1m 3.147,3 snnsberg Feb. 14, ma

u FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date mms France mb. 13, im 

